Maduro accuses political rivals of totalitarianism

DPA/AFP/Paris

“If one day these people came to power – which won’t happen – they would destroy democracy in Venezuela and impose a totalitarian project,” Maduro told the paper in his first interview with foreign media since his inauguration on April 19.

“In Chile there was Pinochet ... a similar ideology is emerging here,” said Maduro, who narrowly defeated opposition candidate Henrique Capriles in disputed elections held after the death of Hugo Chavez, who had anointed Maduro as his heir.

“We will prevent a new Pinochet emerging in Venezuela. We will do it via democracy,” the 50-year-old said.

Venezuela has been in turmoil since the mid-April elections.

Seven people were killed and dozens injured in protests over the result, which the opposition claimed was rigged. On Tuesday, opposition deputies were beaten in a scuffle in Congress.

Maduro downplayed the tensions, saying Venezuela could tackle “any threat”.

He held to Chavez’s anti-American line, saying the US “doesn’t respect” Venezuela and that the difference between US President Barack Obama and his predecessor George W Bush was one of style, rather than substance.

“He (Obama) smiles but he still bombs,” Maduro said, stressing however that he was open to “moving towards a relationship that could be positive”.

But that did not mean Venezuela would ditch its alliances with repressive regimes in countries such as Syria and Iran.

“We have a good economic co-operation with President Bashar al-Assad,” he said, blaming “foreign intervention” for Syria’s civil war.

On the question of foreign investment he signalled some openness, while skirting the issue of the ailing oil sector, which Chavez nationalised.

“We’re creating special economic zones to attract investment in technology,” he said, citing China as an inspiration.

The agri-food sector also presents opportunities, he said. “We can produce for Mercosur, for Europe, for Asia.”

Maduro also spoke on Europe’s ongoing economic crisis, saying that he saw echoes of 1990s Latin America.

“What is happening in Europe at the moment reminds me of what our region went through in the 1990s, all the social indicators were in decline and this led to political explosions, revolutions,” he said. “Europe should be careful.”